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forty

      Angels I must have more? (here enters a prentice.

      PRENTICE

      ‘tis very late; I were best shut up my stall,

      For here will be old filching, when the press comes forth

      Of paul’s. (then lets down his window, and it breaks Black Will’s head.

      WILL

      Zounds, draw, Shakebag, draw, I am almost kill’d.

      PRENTICE

      We’ll tame you, I warrant.

      WILL

      Zounds, I am tame enough already.

      (here Enter Arden, Franklin, and MICHAEL

      ARDEN

      What troublesome fray or mutiny is this?

      FRANKLIN

      ‘tis nothing but some brabling paltry fray,

      Devised to pick men’s pockets in the throng.

      ARDEN

      Is’t nothing else? Come Franklin let us away. (Exeunt.

      WILL

      What mends shall I have for my broken head?

      PRENTICE

      Marry, this ‘mends, that if you get you not away

      All the sooner, you shall be well beaten and sent to the counter.

      (Exit prentice.

      WILL

      Well, I’ll be gone, but look to your signs,

      For I’ll pull them down all.

      Shakebag, my broken head grieves me not so much

      As by this means Arden hath escaped. (here enters GREENE

      I had a glimpse of him and his companion.

      GREENE

      Why, sirs, Arden’s as well as I;

      I met him and Franklin going merrily to the ordinary.

      What, dare you not do it?

      WILL

      Yes, sir, we dare do it; but, were my consent to give again,

      We would not do it under ten pound more.

      I value every drop of my blood at a french crown.

      I have had ten pounds to steal a dog,

      And we have no more here to kill a man;

      You should do it your self.

      GREENE

      I pray thee, how came thy head broke?

      WILL

      Why, thou seest it is broke, dost thou not?

      SHAKEBAG

      Standing against a stall, watching Arden’s coming,

      Whereupom arose a brawl, and in the tumult

      Arden escaped us and passed by unthought on.

      But forbearance is no acquittance;

      Another time we’ll do it, I warrant thee.

      GREENE

      I pray thee, Will, make clean thy bloody brow,

      And let us bethink us on some other place

      Where Arden may be met with handsomely.

      Remember how devoutly thou hast sworn

      To kill the villain; think upon thine oath.

      WILL

      Tush, I have broken five hundred oaths!

      But wouldst thou charm me to effect this deed,

      Tell me of gold, my resolution’s fee;

      Say thou seest Mosbie kneeling at my knees,

      Offering me service for my high attempt,

      And sweet Alice Arden, with a lap of crowns,

      Comes with a lowly curtsey to the earth,

      Saying ‘take this but for the quarterage,

      Such yearly tribute will I answer thee.’

      SHAKEBAG

      I cannot paint my valor out with words:

      But, give me place and opportunity,

      Such mercy as the starven lioness,

      When she is dry sucked of her eager young,

      Shows to the prey that next encounters her,

      On Arden so much pity would I take.

      GREENE

      So should it fare with men of firm resolve.

      And now, sirs, seeing that this accident

      Of meeting him in paul’s hath no success,

      Let us bethink us of some other place

      Whose earth may swallow up this Arden’s blood.

      (here enters MICHAEL

      see, yonder comes his man: and wot you what

      The foolish knave’s in love with Mosbie’s sister,

      And for her sake, whose love he cannot get

      Unless Mosbie solicit his suit,

      The villain hath sworn the slaughter of his master.

      We’ll question him, for he may stead us much.

      How now, Michael, whither are you going?

      And I am going to prepare his chamber.

      GREENE

      Where supped master Arden?

      MICHAEL

      At the nag’s head, at the eighteen pence ordinary.

      How now, master Shakebag, what Black Will!

      God’s dear lady, how chance your face is so bloddy?

      WILL

      Go to, sirrah, there is a chance in it;

      This sauciness in you will make you be knocked.

      MICHAEL

      Nay, and you be offended, I’ll be gone.

      GREENE

      Stay, Michael, you may not ‘scape us so.

      Michael, I know you love your master well.

      MICHAEL

      Why, so I do; but wherefore urge you that?

      GREENE

      Because I think you love your mistress better.

      MICHAEL

      So think not I; but say, i’ faith, what if I should?

      SHAKEBAG

      Come to the purpose, Michael; we hear

      You have a pretty love in feversham.

      MICHAEL

      Why, have I two or three, what’s that to thee?

      WILL

      You deal too mildly with the peasant, thus it is:

      ‘tis known to us that you love Mosbie’s sister;

      We know besides that you have ta’en your oath

      To further Mosbie to your mistress’ bed,

      And kill your master for his sister’s sake.

      Now, sir,

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